Safety lock foe gas cocks



Aug. 30, 1938. M. P. JANISCH 2,123,352

SAFETY LOOK FOR GAS cocxs Original Filed Dec. 21, 1931 INVENTOR.

MIXIMJLL [AN F. JZINISUH Patented Aug. 30, 1938 SAFETY LOOK FOR GAS COCKS Maximillian P. Janisch, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to Autogas Corporation, Chicago, 111., a. corporation of Delaware Application December 21, 1931, Serial No. 582,278 Renewed December 22, 193'] 8 Claims.

The primary object of the present invention is the provision of means which will act as a safety device in obviating the liability to the occurrence of an explosion of the gas accumulated in the oven of a kitchen range, when the pilot light with which the oven is equipped, has become extinguished from any cause.

In gas consumers of the character indicated, the pilot light for the oven is concealed from 10 casual view, and it cannot be determined by mere routine inspection whether or not such light is burning. In most instances, the pilot light burns continuously, as it is intended to do. But in other instances, it has become extinguished from any one or more of several causes, and when this condition arises, it is without the knowledge of the housewife or domestic.

When it is desired to make use of the oven, the housewife or domestic turns on the supply of gas. If the pilot light in the oven be burning, the oven burners will be ignited within one or two seconds of time, which result is made known by an audible pop in the ignition of the gas when it starts to flow through the burners, as well as by a visible illumination. In the event that the pilot light has become extinguished, there will be no such audible or visual indications, and the first impulse of the housewife or domestic, and more frequently the latter, is to attempt to ignite the gas at the oven burners by seeking to apply a lighted match thereto. Meanwhile, the oven has become filled with the highly inflammable and explosive gas, and when the lighted match is inserted in the oven, an explosion occurs. Very often the latter is attended by the infliction of serious damage to both person and property.

The present invention has for its purpose the provision of means for eliminating the occurrence of accidents of this nature, and this result is efiected by arranging a thermostatic element in such proximity to the pilot light in the oven of a kitchen range, that such element exerts an actual control over the supply of gas. The action of the thermostatic element is to lock the gas cook,

so that the latter cannot be opened until after the pilot light has been relighted.

. A clearly displayed and readilydiscernible signal of mechanical form, also' operated by the action of the thermostatic element, may be em-.

ployled to indicate to the eye the lighted or unlighted condition of the pilot light in the oven. The said signal provides an additional safeguard against accident, and may be used in connection with the oven gas cock lock, or independently of the same in ranges not equipped with such a lock. The lighting pilot, forigniting the oven burners, may be used independently of both the gas cock lock and the signal.

The embodiment of the invention in the one form illustrated, together with its operation, will now be described, and the novelty thereof will be pointed out in the appended claims.

The drawing herewith shows in perspective a fragmentary view of a gas-burning kitchen range, the oven of which is provided with a pilot light, and showing also my safety device and signal as associated therewith, together with the connections which control the supply of gas.

In the drawing, the numeral l0 indicates the grid of a gas burning kitchen range, and the numeral H a part-of the oven structure associated therewith. The oven may be of anyusual or suitable construction, forming a closure and provided with doors, one of the latter of which is indicated by the numeral [2.

The gas manifold I3 is connected to a source of supply in the usual manner. Gas burners H, in plural numbers, one of which is shown, are associated with the grid, and are each supplied with gas by a feeding pipe l5, connected in the usual manner with the manifold l3, through the mixing bell. A stop cock I6 controls the flow of gas from the manifold to the feeding pipe I5, and to the burner M.

A. feeding pipe l1, connected to the manifold l3 in the manner before described, is adapted to supply gas to the burners 18, I8, arranged within the closure of the oven II. A stop cock l9 controls the flow of gas from the manifold to the 35 feeding pipe ll, and to the oven burners.

A by-pass in the form of a small tube 20, is

connected at one end to the stop cock l9, so as to divert theflow of a small quantity of gas from the feeding pipe I! when the valve of the stop cock I9 is opened. The by-pass 20 is extendedthrough one wall of the oven, and may be supported in a stationary position by means of a bracket 2|, attached to the wall of the oven. The by-pass is then extended a short distance beyond or away from the wall of the oven, and is provided at its free end with a housing 22, formed as a short hollow cylinder. The housing 22 is conveniently supported upon the bypass 20, by entering the free end ofthe latter in an opening in the wall of the housing, which 0 permits the said housing to he slipped over the free end of the by-pass, and secured thereon. An outlet within the housing immediately adjacent the pilot, is thus provided for the small quantity of gas diverted through the by-pass 20, to

form the igniting jet for the oven burners. The opposite side of the housing in advance of the end of the by-pass, is cut away to permit the jet to spurt to the nearest oven burner.

A small bore tube 23, leading from the manifold l3, through one wall of the oven, is extended at its other end through an opening in one side of the housing 22, so as to discharge at all times within the housing a small quantity of gas, the purpose of which, when ignited, is to form a constantly burning pilot light. The pilot light is intended to burn continuously, but some times it will become extinguished. The arrangement of the pilot light in the oven is such that ordinarily it is not within the vision of a person using the range.

when the valve of the gas cook I9 is operated to permit the flow of gas through the feeding pipe I1. to the oven burners l8, l8, the small stream or jet of gas, diverted through the bypass 20, will become ignited by the pilot light, and the gas flowing at the same time from the plurality of burners l8, will be ignited by the said jet. In practice, the oven burners I8, I8, are arranged a slight distance apart so that the burners beyond the one in proximity to the pilot light and the lighting jet, will be quickly lighted in succession, until all of the burners of the series have been ignited. I

In the opening part of this specification, I have outlined my invention as residing in the provision of safety means which will obviate the liability to explosions, which follow attemptsto ignite the oven burners by applying a match thereto, when the same fail to be ignited by the pilot light. I achieve this result by attaching to the housing 22 of the pilot light, as to an ear 24 thereon, one end of a strip 25, of thermostatic metal. The securedend of the strip 25 is immediately within the zone of heat generated by the burning pilot light. Unequal expansion of the laminae of the thermostatic strip 25 will cause the free end of the strip to rise above or fall below its'normal plane, depending upon which side of the strip is arranged over the flame of the pilot light. The full lines in the drawing show the normal position of the strip, and the dotted lines the position assumed by the free end of the strip, when heat is applied thereto.

This vibratory motion of the free end of the strip 25 is used to accomplish either or both of two purposes. A vertically disposed rod 26 of light material, is supported at its lower end upon the free end of the strip 25, or connected thereto, so as to have a longitudinal movement in correspondence with the movement of the strip 25. A bell-crank 21 is pivoted on the side of the oven. One end of the bell-crank is connected as at 28 to the rod 26, so as to partake of the movements thereof. The other arm of the bell-crank is connected by a link 29 to a detent 30, pivotally mounted on a stud fixed at some convenient point to the structure.

The stem of the gas cook I9 is provided with a laterally extending pin 3|, conveniently arranged at a angle with relation to the key or handle 32. When the thermostatic strip 25 has been distorted by the heat applied thereto, and moved upwardly to its dotted line position, the detent 30 will be turned so that the swing ing end thereof will stand clear of the path of movement of the radial pin 3|. The valve of the stop cock l9 may then be opened, to permit gas to flow to the burners l8, l8, of the oven, for as long a period of time as the latter may be in use, and upon the conclusion of which the stop cock I9 will be closed, to shut ofi the fiow of gas to the oven burners. If thereafter, from any cause, the pilot light in the oven should become extinguished, the reaction of the thermostatic strip 25 will reverse the position of the parts, and will move the swinging end of the de- 'tent 30 into the path of movement of the radial pin 3 I and effectively look the gas cook I9, against a movement which will open the valve to the flow of gas.

The quantity of gas escaping through an unlighted pilot is very small, and in view of the dissipation of the same in the atmosphere, there will be no accumulation in a volume sufiicient to cause an explosion. Hence, there is not present a liability to danger, if the pilot light be extinguished Upon discoveringthat the stop cock I9 is locked against any flow of gas, it will be necessary only to relight the pilot by applying a match thereto. In a few seconds the thermostatic strip 25 will respond to the heat, and the swinging end of the detent 30 will be withdrawn from its obstructing position. The gas cook l9 may then be operated to permit gas to flow to the burners of the oven. 1

As an aid in determining whether the pilot light is burning, I may provide a mechanical signal, and connect it so that it will be operated to indicating position by the thermostatic element 25. A simple form of this arrangement will be the provision of a signal 33, pivoted in some form with the rod 26, so that in the longitudinal movements of the said rod, the signal will be dis-' played while the pilot is burning, and withdrawn from view when it is not, or vice versa. The signal 33 is pivoted at 34, and provided with a radial arm 35, to which the upper end of the rod 26 .is connected. The dotted lines show the signal as exposed at the time the thermostatic element 25 has been displaced from its normal plane by the heat of the pilot light. The full lines show the signal 33 as withdrawn from view, in the reaction of the strip 25.

My thermostatically controlled safety device may also be used to lock the gas cocks l6 controlling thesupply of gas to the several burners M, by the simple expedient of arranging a thermostatic strip in proximity to the pilot light for the burners l4, and connecting the pivoted looking detents 36 in series, so as to look all of the gas cocks l6.

Where the safety device described cannot be applied to the control of the gas cocks, I may omit the connections to the latter, and use the signal 33 to indicate the condition of the pilot light in the oven.

The arrangement of the by-pass 20 so as to discharge a jet of gas in proximity to the pilot light in the oven, insures a much quicker and more certain ignition of the oven burners, for the reason that the jet of gas flowing from the by-pass is projected toward the nearest oven burner l8, and the flame is carried instantly from the pilot light to the gas flowing from the oven burners. A great advantage of this arrangement lies in the fact that the gas escaping into the oven from the plurality of burners I8, is ignited before the free gas has an opportunity to accumulate in such volume as to constitute a menace.

The drawing is merely illustrative as a single application of my invention, which is also capable of use in connection with gas burners or lighters located outside of the oven, as well.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In a gas range, an oven having a burner, means including a pilot burner and lighter for automatically igniting gas emitted from said first named burner, means including a manually actuated cock for controlling the supply of gas to said lighter and first named burner, a detent movable to lock said cock in closed position; and thermostatic means controlled by the heat of said pilot burner for controlling said detent to prevent opening of said cock when said pilot burner is extinguished. i v

2. In a gas range, an oven having a burner, a manually actuated cock for controlling the supply of gas thereto, a pilot burner, means controlled by said cock and ignited by said pilot. burner for automatically igniting said first named burner upon supplying gas to the latter, a detent movable to lock said cock against opening, and thermostatic means controlled by the heat of said pilot burner for controlling said detent to prevent opening of said cock when said pilot burner is extinguished.

3. In a gas range having a burner, means including a pilot burner and lighter within said oven normally effective to automatically ignite said first named burner whenever gas is supplied to the latter, a manually actuated cock for controlling the supply of gas to said lighter and said first named burner, a detent movable to lock said cock against opening, and thermostatic means controlled by the heat of said pilot burner for controlling said detent to prevent opening of said cockwhen said pilot burner is extinu shed.

4. A safety device for use on gas ranges comprising a main burner, a gas conduit for said burner, a valve in said conduit controlling the fuel supply to said burner, an ignition burner controlled by said valve and positioned to ignite the main burner, a pilot burner positioned to lgnite the ignition burner, and a thermal lock mechanism subject. to the heat of the pilot burner and operable to lock said valve in closed position it the pilot burner should become extinguished while the valve is in closed position, and to permit opening the valve only ii the pilot burner is burning? g 5. In a gas burning device having a main burner, means including a pilot burner and an igniting burner for automatically igniting gas emitted from the main burner, thermostatic means responsive to the temperature of the pilot burner, valve means for controlling the supply of gas to the main burner and igniting burner; and means controlled by the thermostatic means .to prevent opening of the valve means when the pilot burner is extinguished and to permit opening of the valve means only when the pilot burner is burning.

6. In a gas burning device having a main bumer, means including a pilot burner and an igniting burner for automatically igniting gas emitted from the main burner, valve means for controlling the supply of fuel to the main burner and igniting burner, and means movable in'response 'to the heat of the pilot burner and engageable opening thereof when the pilot burner is extin- I guished.

8. A safety device for a fluid fuel burner having a supply conduit with a control valve therein comprising a pilot. burner connected to the supply conduit anterior to the valve, an igniting burner connected to the supply conduit posterior to the valve, and means responsive to the heat of the pilot burner to look the valve against opening when the pilot burner is extinguished. 

